Simply the Best, #16: Roger Federer

By Parsa Samii, GEM Tennis

Roger Federer defeats Andy Murray for Grand Slam title #16, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(11) in 2 hours and 41 minutes

A very edgy, highly intense first 6 games is how it all started. Federer opened up the match trying to break down the Murray backhand with slices, topspin, and flat shots and Murray’s early tactic was to run and defend until he had the backhand up the line to punish Federer. At 3 all 30 all with Federer serving, the Swiss went on an all out assault on the Murray forehand delivering rockets until the Brit broke. In the next game at break point, Federer again attacked the Murray forehand. The break was enough for Federer to hold in the next game to take the opening set 6-3.

The championship final continued with much of the same patterns of the first set. A nervous Murray and a steady Federer produced anti-climactic tennis as Federer broke the Scotsman at 1 all in the second. The world #1 continued to hold and won the set 6-4.

The third set was a complete turn around for the Brit. Murray started to finally relax and he delivered heavy shots off the ground. Murray broke Federer and served for the match at 5-3. Murray faced a break point at 30-40 in which he saved with a 133mph serve out wide. Then at deuce, he set up a forehand into the open court but he pushed it, which gave Federer time to come up with a dipping backhand passing shot that Murray volleyed into the net. Federer came up with the goods when it counted and broke to get the set back on serve. The battle continued until the tiebreak. Clearly Murray had shed the pressure and was locked into playing big time tennis. He was at the form that brought him to the championship match, hitting hard and defending very well. In the tiebreak, Murray had double set point at 6-4. Federer hit a big serve and forehand to save the first set point and Murray once again netted a shaky forehand to even the breaker. The third set point for Murray was on Federer’s serve (7-6), a long physical point ensued in which Murray again worked himself into a winning position, but missed a not so simple backhand volley wide. At this point you could feel that Federer was being given too many chances. On championship point #1, on Murray’s serve, Murray attacked the net and he survived on Federer’s forehand passing shot that narrowly missed its mark. Once again Murray held set point (#4) on the Swiss’ serve. Federer was the aggressor in terms of court position for this point. Eventually, he forced Murray into making an errant topspin lob. Both players were feeling the pressure. Championship point #2 (9-10) came on Murray’s serve. Murray produced a second serve in which Federer crushed, but Murray survived by using his quick hands to get the ball back in play. Federer then played a drop shot on the very next ball. Murray ran it down and hit a backhand slice up the line that Federer let go because he thought it was going out, but unexpectedly it dropped in. And so the tiebreak continued. The next opportunity was for Murray who held set point #5 on Federer’s serve. A huge serve from the world #1 denied the Brit once again. Finally the end was near, at championship point #3 (11-12) on Murray’s serve, Murray finally succumbed as he netted a backhand to end the match. #16 for Roger Federer, wow!

ANALYSIS: Physically, the biggest difference in the match was Federer’s ability to produce offensive tennis when it was required. Federer served very well and he didn’t allow Murray to get comfortable on his return game. This was a much better serving day than Federer’s last grand slam final at the 2009 US Open. Ultimately, the match was determined in the competitor’s minds as it was clear that Murray was overcome by the pressure of the moment until the third set. By that time the mountain was too high to climb as he was two sets down facing the greatest player of all time. Evidence of the pressure was shown by Murray in the post match speech as he couldn’t complete it because he was overcome by emotion at his disappointment of not being able to win a grand slam title for Great Britain. Overall, the level of tennis was disappointing, but this can happen often when one player has much more experience than the other player in a final.

FUTURE OUTLOOK: There is no doubt that Andy Murray will use his experience at the 2010 Australian Open championship match in the future. When he faced Federer in the final of the 2008 US Open it was Murray’s fitness and attitude that were in question. Since that time Murray and his team have done a tremendous job of closing these holes in his game. Today, after the emotions have settled, Murray will learn that he needs to increase his confidence in his attacking game to take it to his opponents when the pressure is at its very highest to win these types of matches and tournaments. In Federer’s post match speech, he turned to Murray and said, “You’re too good of player to not win a grand slam. Don’t worry about it.” And Federer is right. Andy Murray will win one at some point.

So where does Roger Federer go from here? Well, in his mind its all about continuing another fantastic year in his career. Federer shows no signs of slowing down against all of the young up and comers. Federer has used his cool demeanor and experience to gradually reshape his game into a more aggressive style in which the points are shorter for a bulk of the match, but yet when needed he can grind points out to really put pressure on his opponents. The next major of the year is at Roland Garros in May and Federer isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Players beware!